WORK REFUSED

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 110, 3 February 1931, Page 10

WORK REFUSED

Protest by Watersiders

JAPANESE BOAT IDLE

' V * Settlement Expected AUSTRALIAN CARGO Through the refusal of the watersiders to work the Japanese ship Brisbane Maru, a deadlock has arisen, but it is hoped that further discussions to be held to-day will right the trouble. In the meantime the vessel is lying idle at Pipitea Wharf. Between 7.45 a.m. and 9 a.m. yesterday three calls were made for labour, but the watersiders were apparently .in sympathy with the sentiments expressed publicly earlier by Mr. F. P. Walsh, president of the Seamen's Union, in protest against the competition of subsidised Japanese shipping in the inter-colonial trade, and they did not respond. Banners of protest which had been used in an earlier demonstration were prominently displayed over the heads of the men, who stood in a large group and discussed the situation. At 10 a.m. the Local Disputes Committee met, and a meeting of the National Disputes Committee followed. The sitting was protracted, and it will be resumed this morning at eight o’clock, when it is hoped that a settlement will be reached. Everything, it is stated, points bo an amicable settlement being arrived

at. Xn the meantime the Brisbane Maru is lying idle at Pipitea Wharf. She was scheduled to leave for Auckland last night, but even if the present trouble ip overcome and she is worked she cannot now sail before to-night. . The vessel has aboard 260 tons of cargo consisting of timber, silk and fancy goods, for discharge in New Zealand. According to Mr. Walsh, there is on board one ton of cargo loaded at Melbourne for Wellington and 37 tons from the same port for Auckland. The Brisbane Maru was to have picked up cargo for Australia before,leaving Wellington, said Mr. Walsh, and was to have picked up more cargo for Australia in Auckland.

BUILDING UP NEW TRADE “Ballast Across the Tasman” (Rec. February 2, 5.5 p.m.) Sydney, February 2. Birt and* Company, Sydney agents for the Osaka'” Shosen Kaisha, commenting on the Wellington seamen’s demonstration, point out that the ships running on the round voyage—Japan, Australia and New Zealand —are .engaged in a new trade which needs building up. The cargo between Japan ahd New Zealand is not large and it has been found necessary to lift inter-colonial cargo where offered to provide" ballast across the'Tasman. As the real trade for which the service was inaugurated expanded the need for this practice would disappear.